While he seemed a doubtful starter for IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya is all set to be available from the beginning. With T20 World Cup 2024 in sight, there were talks about whether the BCCI medical team would give him clearance if he is not 100% fit. However, Hardik is likely to be 100% fit by early March.
He will join Mumbai Indians camp in Mumbai in the 1st week March. Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as the MI skipper after making a sensational switch to his first franchise after leading Gujarat Titans to IPL title.
Hardik Pandya’s tryst with injuries.
Hardik Pandya has been on the sidelines since injuring his ankle in ODI World Cup. But he has been recovering well ahead of IPL 2024 return.
Hardik Pandya has returned to the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The India all-rounder has been on the sidelines since October when he injured his ankle during India vs Bangladesh match in the ODI World Cup. His injury absence only extended it was later found that Hardik had torn the ligament. While he did not require surgery, he could not return to cricket. However, ahead of IPL 2024 return for Mumbai Indians, he is playing match simulations in Alur, near Bengaluru.
As per an ESPNCricinfo report, Hardik Pandya played a 20-over practice match at the Alur stadium near Bengaluru. NCA physios and trainers supervised the practice match. Hardik Pandya will play another match on Thursday. He is all set to continue those match simulation drills until early March ahead of IPL 2024 return.
Hardik was been Baroda last week completing his rehabilitation at the Kiran More Academy. He had been practicing match simulations there too.
Hardik Pandya and his journey with Mumbai Indians
It is believed that once the decision to bring Hardik back to MI was made, captaincy was a part of the deal. MI, who had made it a habit to win at least one IPL title every alternate year – in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 – had gone without a win for three consecutive seasons. And with Rohit Sharma already 36, managing the responsibility of captaining the Indian team in all three formats, the management believed the time for MI’s transition is now.
The IPL 2024 opener featuring Royal Challengers Bangalore and defending champions Chennai Super Kings promises to be an action-packed contest to get the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League going, but the real battle lines will be drawn on Sunday evening as Hardik Pandya, captaining the Mumbai Indians for the first time, squares off against the team he knows inside out – the Gujarat Titans.
Two years ago, Hardik left MI to start a new chapter with the newly-introduced GT, and did rather well, leading the team to a title win in 2022 and a runner-up finish last year.
Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has clearly reacted on to the fact that it would be an emotional turmoil for Hardik Pandya to come up against Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad.
Hardik Pandya will be looking to stamp his authority in the game- Wasim Jaffer
Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has backed new Mumbai Indians Hardik Pandya to keep emotions on the side for their opening game against Gujarat Titans in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The match is scheduled to take place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 24.
Jaffer pointed out that Gill will lead an IPL franchise for the first time and backed Pandya to stay ruthless against the Titans, a side he led to consecutive finals, including a trophy in the inaugural edition, in their first two seasons.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that a win will help him lead by example after replacing five-time champion Rohit Sharma as MI’s skipper. Jaffer’s comments came as IPL released the schedule for the first 21 games on Thursday, February 22.
He told Star Sports:
“I think Hardik Pandya will look to get this out straight away, and if he gets one win, he will set an example of how he’s leading by example. He will be looking to stamp his authority in the game.”
Jaffer continued:
“It will be the first game for Shubman Gill as the captain of Gujarat Titans. And for Mumbai, Hardik is coming back and leading so it will be mixed emotions for Mumbai Indians fans. We can expect that it will be a full house that day with almost 120,000 people, that’s a fixture to look forward to.”
However, expected to be the face of the GT franchise, the tables turned dramatically when Hardik Pandya not only returned to MI in 2023 but was named their captain for the season ahead. While MI fans have been pretty vocal about the team management’s decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Hardik as captain, GT came up with a call of their own, elevating Shubman Gill to captaincy. Hence, when GT and MI begin their campaigns, expect emotions to run high and Hardik Pandya even getting booed in his own backyard.